Enrique: I'll be patient but I'm ready

Sunday was a significant afternoon for two of Liverpool's Spanish left-backs – and for different reasons.

While Alberto Moreno grabbed a share of the headlines with a stunning solo run and finish to put the seal on the Reds' 3-0 demolition of Tottenham Hotspur in only his second game for the club, compatriot Jose Enrique also had cause for personal satisfaction.

The 28-year-old was introduced into the action as a second-half substitute at White Hart Lane to make his first Barclays Premier League appearance in nine months following injury.

Over the course of the campaign, the pair will be competing against each other for the left-back berth in Brendan Rodgers' side - and now fully fit once again, it's a challenge Enrique is ready to tackle.

"After so long out it was great to be back playing," he said. "The only problem was that once I got warm the game was finished!

"I know I have to go little by little and be patient.

"Moreno did really well and scored an amazing goal. For me the best thing about it was the pressing to win the ball back. That was half of the goal. How he finished was unbelievable.

"The most important thing is that we are a team. This is a team sport and we all have to fight to make this team better. Hopefully we can do even better than last season.

"I will have my chances. I know I have the confidence of the manager so I'm happy about that."

At the other end of the pitch, Raheem Sterling was in scintillating form as he helped Liverpool put their hosts to the sword with an effervescent performance.

Enrique is confident his teammate will continue to have a growing influence on the Reds over the course of the campaign.

"Raheem is one of the best young players in the world for sure," he said.

"He's doing unbelievably well for us. I think this season he's going to score 15 goals or more. We've already told him that.

"He's going to make a massive impact in this team.

"He's still young but you can see over the past two years just how much he has improved.

"Everyone was talking before about how he doesn't make many assists or score many goals but this season he's got two already.

"Now he's adding goals to his game he's a massive player for us."

Another landmark in north London was the debut of new signing Mario Balotelli.

The Italian turned in a solid display on his first appearance for Liverpool and Enrique predicts he will have little problem demonstrating exactly why the Reds swooped to sign him from AC Milan over the course of the next eight months.

"Everyone knows that Mario has all the qualities to be one of the best strikers in the world," Enrique said.

"He knows this is an amazing chance for him at play for Liverpool and I think he's going to do really well.

"During the time he's been with us I've talked with him a lot and inside the dressing room he's been really good.

"Hopefully what we saw on the pitch at Tottenham is what he'll be like all season. He can make a real impact.

"We have got six points out of nine which is a really good start for us. We've already had two really difficult games against two of the best teams in the league.

"I think we were better than Tottenham in all the game. We pressed high and with the attacking players we've got they can kill the game."